As most states recorded high turnout of voters in Saturday’s National Assembly elections, the reverse was the case in Akure, Ondo State capital as well as in most parts of Anambra.

There was, however, a large turnout, especially women and youths in Jos-South/Jos-East Federal Constituency.

Most women in Purdah (Moslem women in seclusion) were given permission by their husbands to participate in the election.

Those at Dadin-Kowa, Anglo Jos, Bukuru and parts of Tudun Wada areas, formed separate lines from that of their male counterpart.
 

A woman leader, Hajia Zaina Musa, told NAN that the women and the youth were mobilised to exercise their civic responsibilities.

However, as at 9.30 a.m. only 20 people have been accredited at polling unit 16 and 17 at NEPA area of Akure.
The Presiding Officer, Mr Asimole Ignatus, observed that voters might have developed apathy because of last week’s postponement.

 A civil servant, who did not disclose his name, said the turnout might not be unconnected with bombing incidents in parts of the country, adding that many were already scared. 

 However, at Oba-Ile, in Akure North Local Government Area, the turnout was impressive while electoral officials also reported early enough to commence accreditation.

 Meanwhile, security at the Akure office of INEC has been beefed up with heavy presence of about 30 armed mobile policemen to prevent violence and bombing.

Presence of local observers such as the Community Life Project (CLP) was also observed.

At ward 8 and 9 in Owo, people trooped out for accreditation, and the INEC official in the area confirmed that all election materials were already available.
The elections In Anambra, was characterized by apathy as many polling stations within Awka and its environs recorded scanty accreditation.

The electorate in most places refused to come out, unlike last Saturday when they trooped out en-masse for the exercise.
As 8.45 a.m., only 12 registered voters were on the queue for accreditation at the Aroma ward 1 polling unit while at the Aroma ward 11 polling centre, only 9 persons were waiting to be accredited at 8.48 a.m.
At the Amenyi wards 1, 11 and 111 in Awka, the INEC officials were there on schedule ready for accreditation, but voters only trickled in for accreditation.
At the St. Mathew Catholic Church and St. Peter Anglican Church polling centres Amawbia, only 25 persons were at the two centres for accreditation.
In Awka South council area of INEC office, distribution of materials to all the polling stations started early, but recorded negligible number of voters as most people went about their normal businesses.
At Nawfia wards 1, 11 and 111 in Awka’s suburb, accreditation commenced at 9.35 a.m. with very few voters on the queue while at Enugu-Ukwu wards 1,11 and 111, in Njikoka council area recorded 70 voters.
In Onitsha, materials for the elections arrived between 10 and 11 a.m at many of the polling stations but recorded few voters.

Some voters, who spoke to NAN, attributed the apathy to the botched April 2 polls.
In Borno, the polls witnessed mass turn out of voters in Maiduguri, as individuals strived to perform their civil responsibilities.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who went round the metropolis reports that accreditation of voters started early in most polling units.
At Gwange, Bulumkutu, Gamboru, Maisandari, Ruwan Zafi, Lagos Street and other areas visited, accreditation of voters went on smoothly but INEC ad hoc staff failed to turnout at the Gwange 11 polling unit leaving the voters stranded for some time.

The presence of security operatives at polling units also helped in ensuring orderliness among voters.
The turnout of voters in many polling stations in Kano State was impressive, especially in Tarauni, Kano Municipal, Fagge and Nasarawa Local Government Areas.
At Hausawa Model Primary School and Babban Giji wards in Tarauni as well as Gandun Albasa ward in Kano, the voters turned out as early as six o’clock in the morning for accreditation.
Similarly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials were at the polling stations very early leading to the timely commencement of the accreditation.
In an interview with NAN at Fagge “D” ward, a Don, Dr Umar Farouk, described the election process as “orderly and faster than what happened last week”.
On security situation, he said: “Although the security personnel are not adequate, people have seen the benefit of organising themselves orderly and have decided to conduct themselves orderly so whether the security are there or not it becomes something else.”

Mr Musa BabanIya, the National Coordinator of Independent Monitor for Democracy and Good Governance in Nigeria, said he was impressed with the peaceful conduct of the exercise. 
In Eket, Akwa Ibom, election materials and personnel arrived late causing a two hour delay in the commencement of accreditation.

At the Qua Iboe Church Primary School, Eket, voters were enthusiastic and expressed optimism that the elections would be successful.

Chief Godwin Itauma, Village Head of Akukwot community told NAN that members of the community were ready to cast their votes and were happy that the re-scheduled elections has commenced.